Armenia

Casualties and Victim Assistance

Last updated: 16 December 2015

Casualty Overview

All known casualties by end 2014

At least 624 mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties (126 killed; 347 injured; 151 unknown)

Casualties in 2014

24 (2013: 6)

2014 casualties by outcome

3 killed; 21 injured (2013: 3 killed; 3 injured)

2014 casualties by device type

24 antipersonnel mine

 

The Armenian Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise identified 24 new mine casualties in 2014, including three people killed. The majority of new casualties were military, police, or deminers, with two killed and 17 injured. Of the five civilian casualties, one was killed and four were injured.[1] In 2013, six new mine casualties were identified.[2] In 2012, no new mine/ERW casualties were identified in the Republic of Armenia, however, in 2011, six mine casualties were recorded.[3] The significant rise in reported casualties in 2014 may be an indication of improved availability of data.

At least 624 mine/ERW casualties (126 killed; 347 injured; 151 of unknown status) have been reported in Armenia since 1990.[4] The Armenia Landmine Impact Survey from 2005 identified 394 casualties (110 killed; 284 injured).[5] The subsequent Non-Technical Mine Action Survey conducted by the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (SFD) between November 2012 and May 2013 with the view to complete the 2005 survey, identified a total of 271 non-recent victims while noting that it was impossible to log all victims during the survey.[6]

Victim Assistance

The Monitor has identified at least 347 mine/ERW survivors in Armenia. Other reports have recorded over 580 “mine victims,” which could include family members of people who have been killed by mines/ERW.[7]

In 2014, the ICRC continued to support the Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS) in a program of data collection on the needs of mine/ERW survivors. The data collection was completed and awaiting entry into the IMSMA database. This database is managed by the ARCS in close cooperation and collaboration with the Armenian Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise.[8]

Armenia has no victim assistance coordination or specific victim assistance strategy. Mine/ERW survivors receive the same services as other persons with disabilities.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, but it reportedly failed to do that effectively.[9]

In 2014, the International Organization for Migration in Armenia continued a socioeconomic reintegration project for survivors supported by ITF Enhancing Human Security that began in 2009. Project activities included micro-credit, skills training, and enhancing government ownership of victim assistance. This program is part of a three-year project in the South Caucasus region that takes a regional approach to implementation by supporting networking between Armenia and Georgia, assessing barriers and needs, and providing recommendations on improved access to employment for persons with disabilities including mine victims.[10] In 2014, ICRC teams carried out psychological support and economic inclusion programs that included mine victims.[11]

The law prohibits discrimination against persons with any disability; however, discrimination remained a problem. The law and a special government decree mandated accessibility to buildings for persons with disabilities, but very few buildings were accessible. Persons with disabilities experienced problems in virtually all areas of life, including healthcare, social and psychological rehabilitation, education, transportation, communication, access to employment, and social protection. Social acceptance was even more difficult for women with disabilities. According to official data, more than 90% of persons with disabilities who were able to work were unemployed.[12]

Armenia ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 22 September 2010.



[1] Email from Buben Arakelyan, Director, Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise, 6 March 2015.

[3]Two Young Armenian Boys Injured from Land Mine,” Press.am, 25 January 2011; and United States (US) Department of State, “2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Armenia,” Washington, DC, 24 May 2012.

[4] Email from Gayane Armaghanova, Vice-Chair, Armenian National Committee of the ICBL (ANC-ICBL), 22 April 2007; and US Department of State, “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Armenia 2009–2011.” There has been no consistent casualty data collection in Armenia. Prior to 2007, information on military casualties was not available and therefore it is not possible to compare trends over time.

[5] UNDP, “Landmine Impact Survey, Republic of Armenia, 2005,” Yerevan, p. 17.

[7] ANC-ICBL identified 548 survivors through 2007 and 34 injured casualties between 2008 and 2010. Email from Gayane Armaghanova, ANC-ICBL, 22 April 2007. In 2012, ITF Enhancing Human Security reported that there were over 580 mine victims in Armenia. ITF Enhancing Human Security, “Annual Report 2011,” Ljubljana, 2012, p. 68. ITF Enhancing Human Security was formerly known as the International Trust Fund for Demining and Victims Assistance (Slovenia).

[8] Email from Herbi Elmazi, Regional Weapon Contamination Advisor, Regional Delegation for the Russian Federation, ICRC, 9 April 2015; and email from Buben Arakelyan, Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise, 6 March 2015.

[9] US Department of State, “2013 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Armenia,” Washington, DC, 27 February 2014, p. 36.

[10] Email from Natasa Ursic, Project Manager, ITF Enhancing Human Security, 3 April 2015; and ITF Enhancing Human Security, “Annual Report 2013,” Ljubljana, 2014, pp. 57–59; “Annual Report 2012,” Ljubljana, 2013, pp. 91–92; and “Annual Report 2011,” Ljubljana, 2012, p. 68.

[11] Email from Buben Arakelyan, Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise, 6 March 2015.

[12] US Department of State, “2014 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Armenia,” Washington, DC, 25 June 2015.